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UFBU CIRCULAR : The issue and our demand are known to everyone. Due to the
increasing stress and strain with which employees and officers are working in the
Branches, UFBU demanded introduction of 5 working days per week.
In the 10th Bipartite Settlement / 7th Joint Note signed in 2015, it was agreed that
2nd and 4th Saturdays of every month will be holidays and in lieu of that the
remaining Saturdays will be full working days.
In the negotiations for the 11th Bipartite Settlement/ 8th Joint Note, we pursued
our demand for declaring the remaining Saturdays also as holidays. But it could
not be materialized at that time, as our settlement was signed during the covid
pandemic period.
Hence the issue was again taken up during the negotiations for the 12th Bipartite
settlement / 9th Joint Note. After a lot of discussion, IBA agreed as under in the
MOU signed on 7-12-2023.
- Regarding introduction of 5 Day Banking, while IBA has already
recommended the same to the Government, IBA agreed to pursue the
matter with the Government so that the same is cleared without further
delay. We have emphasized and urged that in any case it should be
introduced before our final settlement.
In the final settlement/Joint Note signed on 8-3-2024, the following clause was
agreed upon and provided: - Weekly off : In terms of understanding dated 7th December, 2023, reached
between IBA and Workmen Unions for declaration of all Saturdays as
holidays under Negotiable Instrument Act for Banking industry, IBA has
accordingly recommended to the Government. The due changes in the
working hours, will be effective after approval by the Government of India
and necessary clearances from Government / Reserve Bank of India.
Thus, it is two years since the issue has been recommended to the Government
for approval. Government is also aware that this is one of the important demands
of the UFBU. Government is equally aware that due to multiple reasons, bank
staff are working under undue physical and mental stress. Due to inadequate
staff, employees, officers and Managers are working under extreme pressure of
work. Hence our demand for declaring the remaining Saturdays as holidays is
most reasonable and justified.
In the financial sector, already in RBI, LIC and GIC, this has been implemented.
Hence bank employees and officers are aggrieved that they are being
discriminated while it is stressful to work in the Banks.
Hence, when UFBU gave the call for agitation and strike in the month of March,
2025, this was one of the important demands. In the conciliation meeting held by
the Chief Labour Commissioner, in which the Finance Ministry representatives also
participated and assured that the recommendation of the IBA in this regard was
under active consideration. This was one of the reasons why UFBU deferred the
strike programme.
But in the last more than six months, the Government has not moved in the
matter and it is still pending. The assurances given during the conciliation
meeting remains only assurances but with no result.
Hence in our last UFBU meeting it was decided to manifest our protest against
this undue delay in considering our demand and the IBA’s recommendation of the
understandings reached in the Settlement in March, 2024. It was decided to
undertake agitational programmes including strike action.
Yesterday, after our meeting with the DFS, UFBU met and decided the following
agitational programmes:
